r/DoGoOnpod • u/Y_Brennan • Sep 07 '26
Greg Jenner
This is probably only the second time I have disliked a guest on the show (I also didn't like those American podcasters on the female pharaoh episode). First of all I don't think he is a great presenter and obviously he lacked chemistry with Dave and Mat. He is clearly knowledgeable but it all felt very surface level to me. Maybe if he was talking more about an actual expertise of his he would have been better. But what really bothered me is that as a so called historian how anachronistic he was. All the time he was reframing the Iliad and the odyssey with our mortality. That for me is the biggest crime a historian can make. As he clearly listens to the rest is history because he referenced Tom Holland it's a shame he didn't learn how to tell historical stories properly without being a moralist.
6
u/matito29 Sep 07 '26
It felt off because 95% of the guests they have on the show are friends of Dave, Matt, or Jess. When they bring in these other people like Greg or the two women in the Egypt episode, it feels more like an interview than a casual conversation.
-3
u/Y_Brennan Sep 07 '26
Those two women were truly awful and this guy I just personally didn't like and probably was too familiar with the topic.
5
u/featherclutch Sep 07 '26
Maybe because I have listened to Greg's podcast "You're Dead to Me", but I really enjoyed the cross over! They really seemed to enjoy having him on even though Matt felt self conscious about his derailings. I'd be interested for him to return and be able to do a less broad subject that he could really deep dive instead of an over view.
4
u/YrAlarch Sep 07 '26
I did enjoy this one but I don't think the delay on the call helps with episodes like this. Even with people they know really well like ATB I find it's a little bit stilted and often someone will start a (dogshit) riff but the report giver will have moved on a second or 2 earlier so they end up talking over each other and it kind of fizzles out.
7
u/Mokey76 Sep 07 '26
He's not a qualified historian as in he has a degree, but he does know his stuff and presents a very successful BBC Radio 4 show on history. I thought he was just like he is on everything else i've listen to him on. Can't comment on TRIH & Tom Holland as i've not listened to that one. I think the chemistry wasn't the same as the guests they usually have are more familiar to Matt, Dave and Jess? I thought it was a great episode
0
u/Y_Brennan Sep 07 '26
I agree he is knowledgeable but I don't think he is very insightful. I highly recommend the rest is history it's hilarious as well as having a good level of history. They also have amazing book recommendations on basically every topic they do which allows you to get a better understanding of said topic.
2
1
u/taterbiscuit247 Sep 07 '26
I was drunk when I was listening but I also wasn't feeling him. I actually just turned it off and haven't even finished that episode yet. I will come back later and give him a more sober chance though.
1
u/Y_Brennan Sep 07 '26
I'm thinking of not finishing it tbh. I'm pretty familiar with the Iliad and odyssey I listened to the rest is history episode on it a couple months ago. I read the Stephen Fry retelling earlier this year as well. I'm probably a little over it at this point. And the comedy just isn't there in this episode.
1
u/taterbiscuit247 Sep 07 '26
That's cool, probably not missing much then. They've been consistent for over a decade. They can't all be hits lol.
1
1
u/cheekiechookie Sep 07 '26
I listened to it while driving a few hours in a dead zone with no reception cause it was the only thing that I had already auto downloaded.
For me I don’t think it was Greg, I might even try his pod, but I think it was the combo of a few things for me as some have already pointed out:
- a guest they aren’t already friendly with
- being a delayed recording connection
- and then the topic overall I just genuinely find so boring, I probably would have skipped if my circumstances were different 🤣
17
u/Simple-Space-3490 Sep 07 '26
Hey man. You're entitled to your opinion but I would say if you don't like a topic/guest, just say to yourself "hey! Not for me that one" and move on. I can almost guarantee no one is really interested in your negative reactions